Morning journal and courier., 1887-08-06
CoIored Troops in the War.

From General H. B. Carringtons s Speech at tha
 Colored Veterans Reunion at Boston,
 Early in 1862, before Adjutant- General Thomas issued orders for the legal organiza- tion of colored regiments, I presented set of eolors from the steps of the new Ohio State House to John M. Langston, acting on behalf of colored company then organized and uniformed for the purpose of forming 8 part of Massachusetts regiment called for by John A., Andrew4- -tlaa= grand sar Governor of the commonwealth of Massachusetts. well remember afterward the visit of Adju- tant-General Thomas to the district of Indi- ana, which I was then commanding, and the consultation with Governor Oliver P. Nor ton, the grand war Governor of Indiana, as to general organization of colored troops Questions of expedieney were discussed. The practicability of the plan was also called in question. Can we disentangle the colored man from oppressive surroundings, and lift him up to the consciousness that he is one with us, and that our country is his country, and that his destiny and ours are one and inseparablea
 What was the result? I hold it in my hand. In the war of the rebellion by slave- holding States, which resulted in the eman- cipation of the slaves, the United States had the armed support of thousands who were styled American citizens of African descent; but the world does not fully ap- preeiate the physical and the moral contribu- tive support by which America became fully free. Massachusetts honored through the Fifty y-fourth and Fifty fifth colored regi- ments, organized, as we'll as the Massachu- setts Fifth colored cavalry, at Camp Meigs at Readville. Connecticut furnished the Twenty-ninth colored regiment; the Sixth and Seventh Louisiana were colored troops; six regiments of cavalry, besides the Massa- chusetts Fifth, were colored; fourteen regi- ments of heavy artillery were colored; one hundred and thirty eight regiments (besides those of infantry already mentioned) were colored troops.
 All told, one-ffth of 8 million, comprising force larger than Napoleon ever handled; larger than the regular army of Great Brit ain at any time in her whole history; five times larger than Great Britain employed in the revolutionary war (Hessians included); larger than any single command in the Cri- mean or Franco-Prussian war-American citizens of African descent honored the pro- clamation of Lincoln, that ''human slavery must end," by their support Why was this! They were to the manor born. They knew no fatherland but this. Emigrants from all outside continents have their father land. To that land their affections cling. No American citizen of African descent can hang over his cottage bed genealogical chart, or place his finger on a spot of the map of the dark continent and say, 'There my ancestors held their castle, lived and dourished." Against all immigration, against socialism, nihilism, communism, an- archy and irreligion, in every and whatever guise, the American citizen of African de- scent is a hearty, warm-blooded, generous and fearless, as well as a native born Ameri- can opponent His millions are threefold the population of the colonies when they re- belled against Great Britain. His millions are one-third the population of Great Britt ain, Ireland included. His millions are more than one-fourth the population of France to- day His millions are one-sixth the popula. ton of Russia in Europe By instinct re1i- gious, musical and home-loving, he never can be traitor to the land of his birth, nor tolerate incoming forces that threaten free institutions in America. He is the welcome, appreciative, adjustable, assimilative and certain counterpoise to every aggressive out side force that threatens our institutions.
 His political equality is indisputable; his social surroundings will adjust themselves. under the laws of God and nature, just right. He is the great American factor to defy foreign encroachment, and when America shall only recognize and honor his position and his worth the problem of our destiny will be solved, and the great republic shall be supreme in peace and defy the world in arms.